The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-08-04

DANnNAOR'0 REWARD
1t was a cold January day. John
Steele sat alone in his Office, in the midst
of deep reverie.
1t was seldom that he was idle, as he
was at the present time, but this evening
the memories of the past came flockino
upon him like ghosts from another land.
John Steele was a bachelor of forty.
He had been born and reared poor boy,
in the little town of M, and had never
felt desire to leave it. He had studied
law and plodded along year after year in
the dingy, grimy Office, in which we find
him now, and had grown rich. He had no
personal friends, and lived alone in a
large, old frame house at the outskirts of
| the town, with man servant as cook and
general man-of-all-work.
Years and years before, when young
man of twenty, poor and aimless, Steele
had loved girl whose parents would not
let her marry him because he was 30
worthless. In his rage he blamed her for
this and would listen to no reason, and
from that day had hated women and had
led a solitary life. 1t was this scene that
now held John Steele in his office chair, as
the mantle of night gathered over the
town.
"More than twenty years ago." he
unused, "and don't believe have ever
spoken to woman, except on business,
since that day. They say she married a
no-account wretch after all, who has sunk
down to poverty and want. Well, we'll,
l must not waste time thinking about
such things now. was only a boy then,
and did not know what wanted. Imust
be going" Whereupon he arose, but
toned his coat about him, locked his office
and trudged on his homeward journey.
Rumor had it about town that. al
though by her parents influence, Katie
Drew had married shortly after her refu-
sal of Steele, that she had loved him
dearly. This was mostly likely true, but
as twenty years had past, the matter had
faded from the general mind to give way
to more lively gossip.
Steele ate his supper in silence. Will
liam, his man-of-all-work, had very good
meal prepared; for, though Steele was
close-fsted he believed in good eating,
good clothes and comfortable living.
"Now, William" said Steele, when he
had finished, elf you fix me up enough
food to do me tomorrow, you may have
. holiday: L,yy:.. And N h here is your money and
don't want any"
~Thank you, Mr.. Steele, for your good
ness" said William. "But, Mr.. Steele,
don't you never take any little extra
pleasure at allp You know l used to
know you when you was little fellow !;
and / can remember seeing your good
mother holding you up at the old church
40 you could see the Christmas Tree.
And you was a wee little tad then, and
you clapped your little hands in glee and
your mother would kiss your baby face
and talk baby talk to you. 1t don't
seem like that was near forty years ago,
Mr. Steele, but it was"
"Confound the fellow" grumbled
Steele, as he sat down in his room that
night to read. elf should listen to him
he would upset me. don't know what
is the matter with me this evening, any
how. I never felt 80 queer in my life. 1
guess l am using too much tobacco of
late"
He read until bedtime, and was in the
act of taking off his boots, when he heard
q knock at the front door.
"Wonder who that is" he thought
Something unusual at this place"
He listened Q moment and there came
another knock.
"What the deuce can that William be
doing that he don't 60 to the door ?"
said Steele. L want to go to bed, and
it may be some one that wants me. To
borrow money, guess. Well, unless they
have good security, not a cent do they
get"
At this juncture William opened the
door. Steele heard an indistinct CONVEX
sation, and then William conducted the
visitor to the kitchen. After some mo-
ments William came walking into the
room.
"Well, what is it p
aExcuse me, Mr. Steele, but there is a
moor woman in the kitchen who needs
some help badly. I'm sure she does, for
she don't look as q common beggar. She
saws she has walked through the cold all
the vsy from the last town, and is most
dead"
eyes, that is what they all say. Give
her something to eat and send her on"
"But wish you would come and see
her." :, ,
aBother these beggars," mumbled
Steele. "But / guess I'll 60 down to get
rid of her"
Steele saw black figure sitting by the
fire.
"Well," he said to her, when he en-
tered, what can do for you ?"
She turned toward him. Her face was
not that of beggar. Although trifie
pale, it was the face of pretty woman OF
thirty-6ve. =. .,
II only wished to get warn" she said;
81 was 20 cold that / felt - if / should
freeze. 1 am sorry to distarb you. 1 have
friends in the town, and am sure can get
| employment Of some kind there. l used
to i've there years and years ago."
BY means Of . few questions he learned
that che was . widow, without any rels'
lions in the world. He was deeply
| touched by her story. -,
- - What was your husbands name 2 "
aked Steele. ...4.s +,
Garter" she said George Carter.
/" VISIT here moment" ne said, and
/ we.t mn Il, hfa yo,Yd